Audible signaling device for use with tanks



Patented Aug. 27, 1940 Frank P. Scuily, Cambridge, and Alcide E. Mathey,

Auburndaie, Mass., assignors to Scully Signal 00., East Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 25, 1939, Serial No. 306,142

6 Claims.

ive an audible signal to indicate to the operator in. charge of filling a tank when the liquid has risen to a predetermined point therein so that the supply may be cut oil in time to prevent overflow.

'10 Many different forms of signaling means have been provided heretofore, but by the particular construction herein set forth there is provided a construction which is simple, cheap and positive in action and which may be set, at the time of i6 installation to provide for indication of the liquid level at any desired point, or may be adjusted thereafter to indicate a different level.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate with the signaling meansvmechanism which go at all times provides adequate venting capacity so that in the event of failure of the operator to shut ofl the supply to the tank, overflow may take place without the development oi dangerous pressures. 3 These and other objects 'of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying draw ing in which: 1 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing 01' a tank having a filling connection and a venting connection.

Fig. 2 is a detail in section of one form of the signaling and venting connection.

Fig. 3 shows another form of the signaling and a venting connection.

Fig. 4 shows still a further modification. Referring now to the drawing, thedescription of the invention'will be given, to befollowed by an explanation oi the mode of peration. Inl'igJisshowriatankIhavingafillingeonnection 4 and a venting connection. These conneetionsmay,oi oourse,beplacedatanydei'slredlocationonthetankandtheirterminal ends may be at any place found convenient a connection with the installation:

lnngalsanddareshowndetailedcon- 'structlons at the'venting connectionl, indi- .cated'generallyinl'Ig.1. In- Hg.2thetopoi tankii'sindicatedasltllndhasahoreiherea thmushat "llinwhichmaybepodtionedthe venting connection. m may heinthei'ormotatube ilextmding downwardly intoflaetankthroughhoreli. Thelengtho! jhibellisbyflieieveloiiheliquid 5' am as; desired to alanine operator.

That is to say, it is contemplated that when the liquid level reaches the lower end of tube l2, the signal will be given, and hencethe farther tube l2 extends downwardly into the tank, the lower will be the level when the signal is made. Tube ,6 l2 may be fixed or adjustable with respect to the top (if the tank 8 by any convenient means, as, for example, either a sliding fit through a packing sleeve or a screw thread connection.

In series with tube I2 is an audible signaling 1!) device or whistle, shown as M in Fig. 2. This whistle is of the button type, having upper and lower apertures l6 and 18. The whistle is posi-. tioned in a housing 20 and rests on the lower portion thereof which forms a seat, as at :12. A stop 24 in the form of a bar extending across the housing is included to limit the upward movement of the whistle should the latter be blown upwardly oil the seat.

-The upper end of housing is'connected to a 20 further extension 01 venting connection 26 which may terminate at any desired point.

The whistle II is light enough so that if an excessive pressure should develop in the tank, the whistle will be raised from seat 22 to permit 25 by-passing of gas about the whistle-thereby increasing the venting capacity to the necessary degree. Such movement upwardly of the whistle does not, however, afiect the audibility of the device, as under such circumstances there will be so a sufllcient pressure differential between the upper and lower sides oi. the whistle to insure the passage of an adequate volume of gas therethrough to produce an audible sound.

The construction disclosed in 13g. 3 is in genan era] the same as that of Pig. 2, but diflers in that the whistle I! is fixedly mounted on a support 28 which in turn is fixed tothe housing in. The whistle is thereby rendered immovable with- 3 in the housing. However, surrounding the whis- 0 tie is a series oi ports 30 tor the purpose of providing increased venting capacity in the event of excess in the'tank- Ports 30 are normally held closed by the annular valve 32 which is gravitationally maintained thereover. v 5

oil 'lg. 3 venting gaswili normally pass through the whistle to produce a sound. Under the development of 'ence'ss pressure'valve 32 will be forced upwardlyi'rom its seat over ports 30, thereby opening-the latter so toprovideincreuedventingcapacity army he needed. In such event, however, the .audibility oi whistle ills maintained due to the pressure diiiermtials on the opposite sides of the whistle.

5mm ,ilownin 4 theauxu iliary port, which provides for increased venting capacity, is in the form of an opening 34 in the side of the vent pipe outside of the tank but between the tank and whistle M. This opening is normally closed by a valve 36 held in position by spring 38. Under conditions of excess pressure valve 36 will be forced outwardly from its seat, thereby opening port 34 to provide the increased venting capacity that may be needed.

The devices operate as follows. Liquid enters the tank through filling connection 4 and the displaced gas is vented from the'tank through venting connection 6. As soon as filling commences, gas will pass through whistle l4, immediately producing an audible sound that may be heard by the operator. Filling continues and the audible sound continues until such time as the liquid rises to the lower end of tube l2. When the liquid level reaches this point and seals the lower end of tube I2, the whistling is discontinued, as the gas at the top of the tank can no longer escape therefrom. As filling continues thereafter, the gas trapped in the top of the tank is gradually compressed, forcing the liquid upward through tube l2. movement after the trapping of the lower end of tube [2 is slow because of the low pressure of the trapped gas. Gradually, however, as additional liquid is put into the tank, the pressure of the trapped gas increases, with the result that upward movement-of the liquid in tube l2 will be accelerated.

- In due time, therefore, if the supply is not cut off, the liquid will advance upwardly at such a rate that the gas ahead of it in tube i2 will be driven through the whistle rapidly enough to produce again an audible sound, until the. liquid reaches the whistle, after which whistling again ceases and overflow may,,take place.

However, the time between the initial trapping of the lower end of tube l2 when the whistle is first cut off and the recommencing of the whistle thereafter is appreciable and sumcient to enable the operator to cut 01f the supply before overflow takes place.

Obviously, by varying the volume of the trapped gas at the'top of the tank, which may be done by changing the length 'of tube H2 or altering the configuration of the top of the tank itself, the time from cessation to recommencement of the whistle may be varied as desired for e a given rate of fill.

If, through accident 'or mistake, the operator fails to shut off the supply, ultimately the tank will overflow through the venting connection 6, but due to the provision of bypasses of adequate capacity about the whistle, the venting capacity is not restricted to the size of the apertures l6 and i8 through the whistle, so that safe condi-' At first this upward been shown, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, but only by the appended claims.

We claim: r

1. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, comprising in combination with a tank a venting connection therefrom, said venting connection comprising a tube fixed with respect to and extending a predetermined distance below the top of said tank and adapted to be trapped by a rising liquid level and through which tube all gas leaving said tank must pass, a whistle in said venting connection in series with said tube,

and bypassing means about said whistle operative 15 at a predetermined pressure.

2. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, as set forth in claim 1, in which said venting connection has a seat formed therein and said whistle is movable and rests on said seat and said by-pass is formed when pressure in excess of a predetermined degree has moved said whistle off said seat.

3. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, as set forth in claim 1, in which said venting connection has a seat formed therein and said whistle is movable and rests on said seat and said by-pass is formed when pressure in excess of a predetermined degree has moved said whistle upwardly off said seat, and stop means for limiting the upward movement of said whistle off said seat at a position of superior venting capacity.

4. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, asset forth in claim 1, said whistle being fixed in said vent passage, ports in said vent passage normally closed by pressure-operated valve means whereby fluid may be bypassed about said whistle under conditions of pressure in excess of a predetermined degree.

'5. Means for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, as set forth in claim 1, in which said whistle is fixed in said vent passage, an auxiliary port in said vent passage between the outside of said tank and said whistle, said port being normally closed by a valve but operable to permit the escape of fluid under conditions of pressure in excess of a predetermined degree.

6. Means for indicating the level of a liquid in a tank, including in combination with a tank a vent passage, said vent passage comprising a tube having its lower end a predetermined distance below the top of said tank whereby the lower end will be trapped upon the liquid level rising thereto, the volume of gas remaining in the tank after the lower end of said tube has been trapped being sufiicient to insure a slow upward movement of liquid in said tube for a period adequate to allow shutting off the supply of liquid to said tank, a whistle in said venting passage audible during filling of said tank and inaudible for an appreciable period after the lower end of said tube has been trapped by rising liquid, and means for increasing the venting capacity of said vent pr: sage when the pressure within said tank is in excess of a predetermined degree.

FRANK P. SCULLY. ALCIDE E. MATHEY. 

